Amnesty International

Mr.

Ahmad Ibrahim

Lawan

Nigeria

Dear Senator Ahmed Lawan,
Dear Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila,

Women in Nigeria are demanding an end to discrimination particularly as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. As the world commemorates the International Women’s Day, Amnesty International calls on the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure the speedy passage of the following bills:

•	Bill 35: An act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for related matters.

•	Bill 36: An act to alter the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to expand the scope of citizenship by registration and; for related matters.

•	Bill 37: An act to alter the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration and; for related matters.

•	Bill 38: An act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide criteria for qualification to become an indigene of a state in Nigeria; and for related matters.

•	Bill 45: An act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the President and Governors to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within thirty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly, provide reserved quota for women; and for related matters.

I am concerned about the rejection of the above bills by the National Assembly. The bills set out positive measures to promote non-discrimination and gender equality through its provision which includes affirmative action in politics and leadership positions, the right for women to confer citizenship on their foreign husbands and a woman’s right to indigeneship of her husband’s state after at least five years of marriage.

About 37 years after Nigeria ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and 18 years after its ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), women in Nigeria continue to experience various forms of discrimination in law and practice.

Through its ratification of CEDAW and Maputo Protocol, Nigeria has obligations to condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions act in conformity with this obligation.  Similarly, Article 2 Maputo Protocol places obligation on Nigeria to embody the principle of the equality of men and women in their national constitutions or other appropriate legislation, and to take corrective and positive action in those areas where discrimination against women in law and in fact continues to exist.

By the provision of Article 7 of CEDAW, Nigeria undertakes to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life and to ensure that women have the right to vote in all elections and are eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies, on equal terms with men. Nigeria must also ensure that women participate in the formulation of government policies and implementations and have the right to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government.

Furthermore, Article 9 of the Maputo Protocol places obligation on Nigeria to take specific positive action to promote participative governance and the equal participation of women in the political life of their country through affirmative action, enabling national legislation and other measures to ensure that women participate without any discrimination in all elections, women are represented equally at all levels with men in all electoral processes and women are equal partners with men at all levels of development and implementation of State policies and development programmes.

In its General Recommendation No. 32 on the gender-related dimensions of refugee status, asylum, nationality and statelessness of women, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommends that State Parties should review and reform their national laws to ensure equality of women and men with regard to the acquisition, changing and retention of nationality and to enable women to transmit their nationality to their children and to their foreign spouses and to ensure that any obstacles to practical implementation of such laws are removed.

I therefore call on the National Assembly to reconsider these bills and ensure their speedy passage. Women and girls in Nigeria have the right to live in dignity, free from discrimination and must be able to fully enjoy their human rights without exclusions based on gender. Nigeria’s obligation to ensure the elimination of discrimination against women is an obligation of an immediate nature and delays cannot be justified on any grounds.

Sincerely,

Mr.

Ahmad Ibrahim

Lawan

Nigeria

Dear Senator Ahmed Lawan,
Dear Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila,

•	Bill 36: An act to alter the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to expand the scope of citizenship by registration and; for related matters.

•	Bill 38: An act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide criteria for qualification to become an indigene of a state in Nigeria; and for related matters.

Sincerely,

Honourable

Femi

Gbajabiamila

Nigeria

Dear Senator Ahmed Lawan,
Dear Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila,

•	Bill 36: An act to alter the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to expand the scope of citizenship by registration and; for related matters.

•	Bill 38: An act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide criteria for qualification to become an indigene of a state in Nigeria; and for related matters.

Sincerely,

EMAIL SENATOR AHMED LAWAN AND HONOURABLE FEMI GBAJABIAMILA